Description
This Million Dollar Spaghetti recipe is a true crowd-pleaser, featuring tender spaghetti baked with a rich Italian sausage marinara and an irresistible creamy blend of ricotta, cream cheese, and Parmesan, all topped with gooey mozzarella. It’s comfort food at its finest!
Ingredients
Scale
- 450g / 1 lb Spaghetti
- 450g / 1 lb Ground Italian Sausage (non-pork)
- 1 large Onion, chopped
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
- 700g / 24 oz Marinara Sauce
- 2 cups / 225g Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- 225g / 8 oz Cream Cheese, softened
- 425g / 15 oz Ricotta Cheese
- 1/2 cup / 50g Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Dried Oregano
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F).
- In a bowl, combine softened cream cheese, ricotta, Parmesan, garlic powder, and dried oregano. Stir until smooth. Set aside.
- Brown ground Italian sausage with chopped onions in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess fat.
- Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes to the skillet; cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Season with salt and pepper.
- Boil spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Drain and return to the pot.
- Stir the sausage mixture and marinara sauce into the spaghetti until well combined.
- Spread half of the pasta mixture into a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture over the first pasta layer.
- Add the remaining pasta mixture on top of the cheese layer.
- Top generously with shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until bubbly, hot, and golden brown.
- Let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Al Dente Pasta: Ensure spaghetti is cooked al dente, as it will continue to cook in the oven.
- Soften Cream Cheese: Always use room-temperature, softened cream cheese for a smooth, lump-free cheese layer.
- Drain Fat: Don’t skip draining the excess fat from the sausage to avoid a greasy final dish.
- Rest Before Serving: Allowing the baked spaghetti to rest helps the layers set, making for cleaner, more appealing slices.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking, Layering
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8th of dish
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
Keywords: Million Dollar Spaghetti, Baked Spaghetti, Italian Sausage, Cream Cheese, Ricotta, Marinara, Mozzarella, Pasta Bake, Casserole, Family Dinner, Easy Spaghetti
